Shielded water closet



5. DUNER SHIELDED WATER CLOSET Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NQV. 22, 1946 Dec. 5, 1950 s. buNER 2,532,763

SHIELDED WATER CLOSET Filed Nov. 22. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SHIELDED WATER CLOSET Sven Duner, Chicago, 111., assignor to Duner Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,556

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-8) This invention relates in general to water closets adapted for use in railway cars, other moving vehicles, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel enclosed hoppers for such water closets.

Vehicle water closets are equipped with operating mechanism comprised of links, springs and/or counterweights, and valves so arranged that when a foot or hand operated lever actuates the mechanism the water closet hopper flushes in a predetermined sequence of operations. As some of these links have rather large relative movements, it is difficult to manufacture a hopper bowl which will encase the operating mechanism and at the same time provide ready access to the linkages for inspection and repairs; therefore, the greater portion of the operating mechanism is placed outside of the hopper bowl. As a result of this exposed position, however, the operating mechanism presents problems in sanitation, cleaning, lubrication, and corrosion.

Previous attempts at shielding of the operating mechanism have not been satisfactory either because of their failure to obtain a complet seal between the shield and the bowl or because access to the enclosed parts has been difiicult, If the seal is not a complete one, waste matter and dirt accumulate within the enclosure; consequently, the net effect of the enclosure is one of reduced, rather than increased, sanitation. Other attempts at enclosing the operating mechanism have resulted in structures so diflicult to assemble or disassemble that, regardless of their sanitary advantages, they have been discarded for their inherent inaccessibility.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide for use in railway cars and the like a shielded water closet hopper wherein the complete enclosure of the operating mechanism facilitates cleaning and maintenance of sanitary standards, reduces corrosion of the parts, and protects lubrication.

Another object is to provide a shielded water closet hopper in which the bowl portion is shaped to permit a complete seal between the bowl and the aforementioned shielding and also to facilitate the positioning and securing of said shielding.

7 Yet another object of my invention is to provide an enclosed water closet hopper in which the shielding is simple in structure, provides ready access to the operating mechanism, and is attractive in appearance.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of my invention will appear in the detailed descrip-.

tion which follows hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational ivew of a water closet hopper embodying my invention, in which part of the shielding has been broken away to reveal parts of the operating mechanism and to show the shape of the bowl portion;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred form of one of the shields which encloses the operating mechanism and of the closure plate which is positioned about the actuating lever;

Figure 3 is a detail view taken in vertical section upon the line 33 of Figure 5;

Figure 4 is a detail view taken in horizontal section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention in the assembled form showing the arrangement of the various parts and the attractive appearance of the assembly.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings and the description which follows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 6 designates the hopper bowl. which is preferably constructed of vitreous china, although it is understood that any other suitable material may be used. Th operating mechanism 1, which controls the dump pan (not shown) during th flushing operation, is placed on the outside of the bowl 6, as best shown in Figure 1. The foot lever 8 is mounted rotatably upon the pinned bracket 9, and actuates the operating mechanism '1 when rotated downwardly.

The operating mechanism l is enclosed b the shields l2 and 13, which are positioned against offsets or ledges formed in the hopper bowl 6. The ofiset on each side of the hopper bowl 6, as shown in Figure 1, is comprised of a vertical component Ill, a horizontal component 5 l, and a conjoining portion 18. The contour of the horizontal offsets H, H is best illustrated in Figure 3, while Figure 4 shows a preferred cross-section of the vertical offsets l U, Ill. Figures 1 and 3 show a preferred contour of the connecting portion 18.

Figure 2 illustrates a preferred form of the left side shield 12. The slot !4 formed therein provides an opening through which a foot lever '8 projects outwardly. The left side shield I2 is clamped against the pinned support bracket 9 by a closure plate l5 and a standard machine screw 1 I6 which conveniently threads into said support bracket, the interrelationship Of the foregoing elements being best shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the closure plate [5 restricts the lower portion of the slot Hi against the infiltration of external dirt. The right side shield I3 is secured to a support bracket not shown in the drawing. Except for the slot [4, the right side shield I3 is a mirror image of the left side shield l2; consequently the assembled water closet hopper is symmetrical in appearance.

Both the shields l2 and i3 and the closure plate I5 can be convenientl and inexpensively stamped from sheet metal, preferably a metal having corrosion resistant properties like aluminum or stainless steel. It is also contemplated that the shielding could advantageously be formed of a material such as a synthetic plastic.

or the like. Further modifications of the contours of the shields i2 and I3 are dictated by the shape of the hopper bowl 5, the location of the operating lever 8, and the placement ofthe hopper within the water closet compartment. Advantageously the hopper may be placed adjacent a Wall or partition as shown in the drawing,

thereby eliminating the need of providing shield-- ing for the rear portion of the hopper.

The vertical ofisets EB, Hi and the horizontal offsets H, H which are formed on both sides of the hoppe bowl 5 make possible a complete, yet simple seal between the shields I2, is and said bowl. As shown in the drawings, the vertical and horizontal components of the offsets are joined together by a conjoining portion i8, which both adds to the appearance of the assembly and permits the use of a smaller draw informing metallic shields; In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown, the offsets are formed so that the edges of the shields I2 and I3- are covered when inv place, thereby averting the unsightly appearance and safety hazard of raw, exposed edges. The oifsets also provide a supporting ledge against which the shields i2 and i3 may be abutted, thereb increasing the rigidity of the assembly and decreasing the need for other supports. In

my invention the number of exteriorly placed supporting elements has been reduced to a minimum, so that continuity of surface is maintained insofar as possible to provide ease in cleaning. Although my invention provides positive sealing of the operating mechanism against external dirt, the shielding is nevertheless so simple in structurethat it provides ready access to the enclosed parts. 9 shown) hereinbefore specified may be conveniently tapped to accept a standard machine screw, it is only necessary to insert or remove two fasteners to either erect or dismantle both shields i2 and i3; hence it is apparent that the operatingmechanism of the enclosed water closet hopper as set forth hereinabove may be quickly exposed for inspection or repair.

The routine cleaning of the conventional hopper without shielding is made difiicult by the complex structure of the exposed operating mechanism; for that reason cleaning is slow and often perfunctorily accomplished. My enclosed water closethopper greatl simplifies routine cleaning because only comparatively smooth and extended surfaces are exposed to dirt. Moreover, by enclosing the operating mechanism there is less likelihood of corrosion ofthe operating mechanism due to frequent exposure to water and cleaning solutions.

As the two brackets (only left side bracket Still further, in my shielded hopper, lubricants applied to the moving parts of the operating mechanism are less likely to be washed away or become contaminated.

While I have shown and. described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been given by way of example only and that various changes and modifications of the details shown may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described and illustrated my invention and indicated its utility, I claim:

1. A sanitary, easily cleaned, water closet hopper for railway cars and the like, consisting of: a water closet bowl having integrally formed therein two substantially vertical offsets and two horizontal offsets, said vertical offsets being respectively positioned opposite one another in the sides of said bowl in the front portions thereof, said horizontal ofi'sets being respectively positioned opposite one another in. the sides of said bowl in the upper portions thereof and; extend, ing rearwardly from the upper limits of. said vertical offsets; a dump pan to empty said bowl during the flushingoperation; operating mechanism coacting with said dump pan positioned about the rear portion of said bowl; a foot lever actuating said operating mechanism and, extending outwardly therefrom; two support brackets rearwise of said vertical offsets, on opposite sides of said bowl; two formed metallic: shields on opposite sides of said bowl abutted. against the corresponding ofisets, one of said. shields secured to its corresponding bracket, the. other ofsaid shields having an opening formed. therein through which said foot lever extends; and a closure plate positioned beneath said foot lever. said other shieldclamped between its corresponding bracket and said closure= plate.

2. In a vehicle water closet including operating mechanism for flushing said closet and anactuating lever extending outwardly from. said operating mechanism; means for enclosing. said operating mechanism to improve the sanitation.

of said hopper and to facilitatev the cleaning thereof, said means comprising: a water closet.

bowl having a substantially vertical offset integrally formed in each side thereof frontwise. of.

said operating mechanism and a horizontal ledgeintegrally formed in each side thereof above said operating mechanism and extending rearwardly from the upper end of said vertical ofiset; twoshields, one of said shields on one side of said. bowl and the other of said shields on the op posite side of said bowl, said shields being positioned against said vertical offsets and said horizontal ledges, one-of said shields having an opening therein through which said actuating lever extends; and means for removably securing said.

shields in place.

SVEN DUNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 525,659 King Sept. 4, I894 793,352 Ciofii June 27 1905 2,089,775 Wexelberg et a1. Aug. 10, 193.? 2,204,704 Schumacher June 18, 1940v 

